I'm Back! (And have been..)

Friends and family! 

Sorry it has taken me so long to get this blog out. I'm back in Columbia resting and gearing up for school. But first, here is how the rest of my time in Haiti was...

Doing laundry is Haiti is so rewarding to get clean, dry clothes and there's something so perfectly simple about line-drying.

Loved getting to spend time with people I love and catch up on where we've been.

Great to enjoy Haitian meals again! This is fried goat!

The views are incredible!

It's hard to see them all because of all of the growth, but these were gray cinder-block houses that some of my first teams in 2013 painted and are now homes to many.

LOVE spending time with these cuties. A perfect way to spend your afternoon.

I had the chance to attend Kindergarten registration at Leveque again this year. So sweet to see families catch our vision and see the value in education.  

One Sunday on a trip out to Leveque, a little boy brought me a little girl and the little girl kept asking me in Creole to pick her up. So I did, and she was very lethargic, dirty, and seemed sick. There wasn't much I could do but hold her while I was there. Fast forward a couple of days, and I see that same little girl and her mom at Kindergarten registration!! Great news! This means she will receive an education, hot meal, and learn about Jesus at school every day starting in the Fall! Praise the Lord for hope and for a family that sees value in education!

Here is a picture from the day I met her mom and her at registration! (I get to sponsor her now too! And her name is Sophia too!)

I had the chance to visit them one more time before I left!

VBS happens every summer with MOH in Haiti. I had never been to Haiti in the summer, so I had never gotten the opportunity to see this in action. Each child gets to have a hot meal, learn a Bible story, play sports, do crafts, sing and dance! 

It was a great month with a perfect balance of work and rest. As always, the Lord taught me a lot and gave me perspective just being away. I love this place, and it never gets any easier to leave, but I'm grateful to call more than one place home. Thank you for your continued prayers and support! I feel refreshed, encouraged, challenged and I'm looking forward to this year back in the States!

Spend Your Life

A week ago today I spent the day with a girl named Jamilyn. It came as a complete shock to us to hear that she passed away last Thursday. I'm thankful for the circumstances that led me to get to join the trip into town with Jamilyn, Britney, and Emily to purchase Haitian artisan goods. In that day I got to learn about her life, her love for the Lord, and her dreams. She served in a role in her church as a buyer for their fair trade market, so she got to travel to different countries, listen to people's stories and support their businesses which is what brought her back to Haiti. What an amazing woman and follower of the Lord she was! We can celebrate what she was for us and for Jesus and that she's with Him now more perfectly and wholly than ever before. This has served as a reminder of the brevity and mist of life. Her life and her soul is gone from this earth and that's sad. We miss her. It's confusing and we mourn. But there's a tension of joy and sadness. Without Jesus, there would be no hope in this situation. There's a richness about moments like this where the Lord is near to the broken-hearted. The three of us here in Haiti were honored to spend some of Jamilyn's last days with her.  I'm grateful to have met her and experience her life. Would you join me in lifting up her family and friends in prayer for the Lord's presence as they process and mourn the loss of their daughter, sister, and friend?

I'll end with a quote from Jamilyn and her time on earth:

"Things don't go to heaven, people go to heaven, so that's what I'm going to spend my life on." Jamilyn Hull 

Here's a clip from her church in Texas:

https://www.facebook.com/susan.f.thomas.5/posts/10206248980639084 

Week 2-Can you believe it's halfway?

A couple little updates from this week...
 

I tried to see Sophia, the student I sponsor as soon as I got here, but it was too late because school had already gotten out for Kindergarten students. So we began to get help from the Village Champions to find a way to see her, but hadn't been successful yet. Fast forward to Wednesday, and I had walked down to the church to meet with our Pastor and on my walk back up, I see a little girl(bigger than the last time I'd seen her) standing on the steps of the school in her precious Kindergarten uniform. I read her name, because in Kindergarten it is sewn onto the front of their uniform, and out loud shrieked "Sophia!!" She is a little shy, and didn't recognize who this crazy lady was yelling her name, but after showing her a few pictures from previous visits, she understood. Then it gets even better! Her mom was with her! They had come to pick up Sophia's grade card. So I asked her mom if she knew who I was, and she said "Yes, I know you from letters." Melt. My. Heart. We exchanged a few words in Creole and snapped this picture together. I'm so thankful for this unplanned (by me) visit with Sophia!

 

On Wednesday afternoon, I got to help facilitate a sponsorship visit that was like none other I had experienced before. A couple of years ago, the student needed surgery that was too dangerous to perform in Haiti, so he was able to be sent to the States. Throughout his time in the States, the Haitian student needed a place to stay, and God knew just the right people. There is a family who has a heart for Haiti that live in the same city that the surgery was in and were able to take care of and fall in love with this student. When it was time for the student to move back home to Haiti, the Miami family wanted him in a good school where he would learn academically and grow in his love for the Lord. They got in touch with Mission of Hope and were able to get him in our school. Since then, they've been his sponsors and able to encourage him with gifts and letters through our sponsorship program.
 

The student's biological family and Miami family both have a deep love for the student, but hadn't had the joy of meeting each other until this day. It was beautiful to see both families interact and communicate their love for the student and gratitude for the other. The Gospel was shared, stories and ways of life were exchanged, and we all left feeling encouraged. The student is doing well in our school, and living a successful life in Haiti. The two families remain in touch.

 

 

 

On Friday I had the honor of celebrating 125 Haitian students graduate. It was so encouraging to see them sent out to play a role in the transformation of this nation with their knowledge and their God. There were songs, poems, speeches, and the whole bit. It was cool to see the North American church and the Haitian church come together and support these students. One of the students graduating was from our orphanage, so it was an extra special graduation for us.

 

Looking back on this post, you can see the thread of student sponsorship throughout. Students were able to graduate with the help of sponsors, lives have been changed because of sponsors, and God is sovereign over that relationship with the sponsor and the student.

 

 

Summertime in Haiti

I assume many of you have seen my family's post on Facebook about me being in Haiti safely, or maybe you saw some of my Instagram posts. If not, I made it safely to Haiti and have been back for almost a week!

 

The students are still in school so I've gotten to do some of the Child Sponsorship work I did before to facilitate the relationship between the sponsors and the students. Things like delivering gifts and letters from sponsors, getting to take pictures of students for profile cards, and letting the students write to their sponsors as an end of the year note. I also got the chance to see a Bible study of high school girls meet the two Haitian students they've come together to sponsor. It was really great to see how both the students and the sponsors were encouraged by their time together. 

It has been fun to reconnect with friends on staff and Haitian friends. I'm getting back into the flow of Sponsorship and also learning new things with Mobilization. My Creole (the little that was there) is coming back and it's so fun to use. There are exciting changes around here that have happened since last year. Staff in new roles and new growth in ministry and projects. 

 

I ask for your prayers for Haitian schools that they would catch the vision of Mission of Hope, live it out, and stay accountable for the children. 
 

I'm thankful for work, rest, and growth in this country. I'm challenged by the chance to be relational and look past tasks and the importance of not letting them keep me from the Lord and ministry. I'm grateful to be back after a year in the States and reflect on how the Lord is continuing to teach me things that I was learning when I was here last year.

 

On the way to one of our schools in the mountains.

The littles!

My friend in the office!

Sponsorship team up in the mountains!

Mr. Frenel on our Sponsorship staff hard at work reading a letter from a sponsor to this student so that she can respond.

 

A student at the school in Turpin!

 

 

"That my faith would be made stronger in the presence of my savior."

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.