Jezi se tout pou mwen

 

"And then as I turn out the lamp after preparing for my interview (sticky with an ac that doesn't work) I realize..this is the beginning of new chapters. Beginning of goodbyes. And it's hard, and it's sad, but it's good. And I know that He never changes and He is continually guiding me. "

-A quote from my journal at the end of May.

I'm back in the US! Back in Columbia, holding on tight as God is working things out for this next season. It's been quite a transition. A bit messy at times. I easily get in a funk or a daze, become short, snappy, and selfish about what I want. I'm adjusting to the transition of a new job, new place to live, new surroundings! It's like my 1st year of post-grad life all over again but this time I get to learn about fun things like loans, credit cards, contracts, and other big girl duties.  :)

For a while I was in denial about what was really happening. I'm a slow processor, so it's taking a while for me to adjust to this new season and realize I've left the last season. You see, I have lived, worked, played, eaten, sweat, processed, worshipped, cried, laughed, killed rats, grown, learned more about myself, lived life all with this tight knit community for about 9 months. I'm still figuring out this new relationship with Haiti and the people my heart is so attached to.

A few things have changed, but in the grand scheme of things, nothing much has changed. I'm still a missionary, I just make my own money now, and my life isn't on display as a "foreign missionary." Back here I easily fall back into relying on myself and not being forced to stretch and rely on Him daily. I pray to trust and open up to all that He has for me here. To be obedient here. To see through His eyes. To see my new ministry and walk into that. I pray to see need in the US, my purpose here, that I would be fully alive here and that parts of me that were so fruitful in Haiti would be  just as fruitful here.

I pray that even when I want to speak Creole and no one knows what I'm saying, when I want to be belting out Creole worship with sweat rolling down my back, or holding ragamuffin kiddos, riding on a bumpy dirt road, swatting mosquitos from my body, casting the vision, getting kids sponsored, seeing team members get it, responding to my name being pronounced "Bwitney;" when my whole heart aches to be there, that I would say it is well. He is with me and He is good.

You too can still support Haiti from the states, because although I don't live in Haiti right now, Haiti is still a huge part of who I am, and the Lord is doing huge things there. Support a missionary, sponsor a child, follow the blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter for updates, and pray for Haiti! 

Things have lined up so perfectly for me. The Lord has really supplied everything and worked everything out for this next season. These physical needs He's met bring hope that He will continue to meet my emotional needs too. I have a wonderful job with a great team, in a great grade level, a place to live with sweet believers, community, resources upon resources for my new classroom. Things I didn't even ask for that the Lord is so graciously giving.  It's so perfectly affirming that this is where I'm supposed to be next, this is right. It is well.

 

Lamentations 3:22-24:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.

2 Peter 1:3 "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence."

Jesus, that I would know and believe that You are enough. That my full and complete joy and satisfaction is in You.

Let this be my anthem, my song of praise: "Jezi se tout pou mwen"

Jesus is all for me. And He's all for you too!

May your moments be blessed

I have a friend that always says "may God bless your moments." Let me tell you about moments blessed. We knew it was gonna be a long and busy day. Thursdays are our "marathon" days, you know. We have double nightly programming and work until about 8.  It started out at 7:45am with us realizing we forgot to request a vehicle because a couple of days before, we found out that there was no school on Friday so everything had to be moved to Thursday. When we moved everything, we forgot to move the vehicle request. Oops.  The sponsorship team was all splitting up to do Kindergarten registration at three different schools, we had two sponsor visits, and had to do this all before lunch because school gets out.

We were so stripped that we literally relied on Lord. We had to. (And what a sweet place to be.) There was no one we could call, nothing our little human minds could conjure up, to fix our problems and make everything happen. You see, the thing is the Lord was working this out weeks in advance. Because the two sponsor visits just happened to be at schools that we were already going to for registration (Bercy and Leveque), there was a team leaving from main campus going to Leveque so we hopped on with them. Then, because of other circumstances, we were able to use someone else's vehicle to get to Bercy and then get back to main campus. When we were finished with what we had to do at Leveque, that car arrived to take us to Bercy. When we got to Bercy, there was a perfect amount of time to get the work done we needed and let the sponsor meet her student before school got out. When we had forgotten to do something, we found it had already happened. I literally said it out loud in awe, "He's supplying all of our needs!"

So as He supplies our needs, He blesses our moments. Brooke, Mr. Frenel, and I started the morning doing registration at Leveque. It was like Haiti picture day, and Brooke and I were the photographers! Haha. I wish with all my heart some outside person could have captured all this morning was. There were moms helping us get their little babies to look cute and smile for the crazy white girl with the camera screaming "souri souri souri." I probably took 80 pictures just for 9 students. Who knew so much work went into that picture on a profile card?! And all because of sponsors' partnership with these students and families could these proud moms and dads bring their little 3 year old babies and register them for school. What a beautiful thing!

Then from out of nowhere an English version with a country twang of "Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb" plays out of a phone, and feelings of home rush in, and we dance.

I write supplies on my hand so that we don't forget our bag of supplies and I'm reminded.

He supplies all our needs. 

Sign in the Leveque school office.

 

There was a father there that was deaf trying to discipline and control his special needs son. The look of love in his eyes for his son was something I'll never forget. He was so tender and patient. When it was their turn for his son to get his picture taken, the son couldn't break his gaze with his dad so the dad went to hide behind the wall so I could get a picture with his son looking at the camera. Look at the love he has for his father. Couldn't break that stare.  

 

If you didn't notice, we grabbed and dropped the board a few times until the picture was ready.

There were tears. 

 

 

And countless efforts from moms.
 

I mean look at her!

I enjoyed snapping pictures of these precious, precious ones! 

 

He blessed moments. When everything around is chaos, He blesses the moments.

In the craziest of days that doesn't even seem possible, He supplied all our needs.

Let me ne'er forget. 

Adventures

There have been many adventures here recently. Some planned and some unplanned.

 

The view on the roof at dusk never gets old.

The adventurous hike to Delbourg climbing rocks and wading rivers.







 

 

Brooke and I enjoying the breeze

 

 

Sweet babies we passed on our hike just enjoying the river.
 

 

Brooke learned how to weave! Even though this lady was VERY skeptical of her skill. ;)

 

We made it! The school at Delbourg.
 

Precious School Direction/Administration office at Delbourg
 

Beautiful hike to our school in Pennsick. A planned adventure that was a 1.5 hour hike there and back two days after hiking to Delbourg. We will spread those out a little more next time. :)


A friend I made when we got there.
 

When these little guys visit my office, it always makes my day!
 

Adrien and I matching!
 

Patrick and I had to cross a river unexpectedly on the way to our school in Orangers

 

 

It was a muddy mess!
 

Patrick in action! Taking a picture of a student receiving a gift from her sponsor.
 

 

Some of our students at the Orangers school. We love their uniforms!!

 

Some of our orphanage cuties walking to church!

 Ice cream party instead of staff meeting!
 

 Enjoying some fried Akra on a Friday afternoon.

 The way they packed my togo food at a restaurant in Port au Prince! Hahaha.
 

This hill from the office up to the house is long and hard, and I complain about it most days, but it's beautiful and I can't believe I call it home.

An Easter Post

Happy Easter, beloved ones!

Jesus on the cross shows us that our sin leads to death. BUT Jesus says, I'll take your death unto me, so you don't have to die. So now in Me, you can have LIFE.

Being away from home, family, friends, and usual Easter traditions is tough, but this year I can say that even when you don't get a new Easter dress, and there isn't an Easter basket to wake up to (yes, mom still does that for us), you can still lift your eyes to celebrate His death and rising, maybe even more richly than when the culture of Easter is mixed in.

Though it was tough to be away, this season I'm thankful that:

I got to get up to see the sun rise over the mountain to begin the day celebrating the Son that rose!

I got to get back in bed to read the stories of Easter and worship His name.

I got to enjoy pancake breakfast with family here.

I got to worship with my Haitian brothers and sisters here.

I got to FaceTime with the family I miss so much!

I got to dye Easter eggs with the gals on staff.

I got to be a part of the Village of Hope/Orphanage Easter Egg Hunt with the kiddos.

Most of all, that Jesus still rises. Despite my wavering emotions.

In this season, one of the craziest things to me is that not only did Christ die for us and raise so we could have eternal life, but that the Lord cares to perfect us to make us like His Son.
"For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." Hebrews 10:14

Rejoice that forever He is risen!